Chinese Community
large of this Colony. They
are all
men
of influence and high standing, who have been long resident in Hong Kong,
who have in many instances a large stake in the
Colony, being the owners of
extensive property
in it, who possess
not only the confidence of the Chinese but also of the European Community, many of them occupying
positions of great responsibility
in European
banks and mercantile firms.
They are highly respected gentlemen.
The views of these gentlemen are clearly set forth
in their representation so that it is quite unnecessary for
me to give any explanation of them. I would only point out that they strongly oppose the extension on the grounds that
such an extension will
inevitably
tend to an increase in our criminal
classes, that the separate apartments
will fail to act as a deterrent to Chinese prisoners, and that the most effectual way
to prevent crime in
this Colony is not to enlarge
the Gaol but to use
freely the
power of banishment and to make the prisoner's
life not so comfortable as it is at present.
4.
In considering
the views contained in the
representation it must be remembered
that the Chinese gentlemen who
have signed it, have either lived for the greater part of their lives in a
British Colony
having been born in British territory, are British subjects,
and are not
unaccustomed...